Howard County Teachers "Work To Rule" In Final Few Days Of Classes

WBAL's John Patti discusses the "work to rule" job action being staged by Howard County teachers with the President of the Howard County Education Association Download This File

Howard County School Superintendent Dr. Renee Foose explains to WBAL's John Patti how she views the teachers' "work to rule" job action Download This File

Members of the Howard County Education Association are staging a "work to rule" job action in the final days of the current school year. HCEA President Paul Lemle says they are meeting all of their professional obligations to students but cannot commit to any future activities such as back to school nights, dances or clubs without teacher stipends.

Lemle says they are "working really hard to come up with a new contract" that addresses some of their main concerns like planning time and the ability to collaborate with their support staff as well as computers for that same support staff.

Howard County School Superintendent Dr.Renee Foose tells WBAL radio that she believes teachers are being bullied by the union leadership to stage the work to rule job action in the final few days of the school year when students are engaged in final exams and getting their college applications finalized they are getting help from the teachers.

Dr. Foose says the teachers are being offered a minimum of a 3% salary increase but 54% of the teachers will receive between a 6% and 9% raise. Foose says the union leadership feels that is not enough which is unfortunate because it is the highest compensation package throughout the state.

Lemle says teachers are being offered a 3% cost of living adjustment in July and a scheduled step increase in March. The union hopes that step increase can be realized in August at the start of the school year. He adds the idea that the school system is offering a 9% pay increase and the union is declining is just not true.

Lemle says they hope to wrap up negotiations by the start of the school year and he assured WBAL Radio that teachers will show up for school when the new school year begins.